What did you do on 1 Jan 09

A meet was arraigned for newyears day at a car park on Lochearn so I decided to go along for the ride.

Day before did my pre-ride checks
Tyre pressures – Check
Full tank of petrol – Check
Digital camera – Check
Tea making stuff - Check

Left Alloa at about 10am taking the road through Doune and onto Callender. The view as you approach Callander was just spectacular with the snow-capped Ben Ledi in front of you. The air was clear and crisp and the roads were almost deserted – Note to self invest in heated grips –.
Once through Callander there a short straight so pulled out to over take a car that then decided to speed up as I was going past him. ????? So I had to drop a gear and get in front of him. The road up to Loch Lubnaig is really twisty so I was taking it easy, being aware that the road was a bit damp. At this point the car driver decided to overtake me even though he could not see round the next set of bends - taxi for a fanny – I let him go not the time or the place
As I got to the end of Loch Lubnaig just where it is about 200ft across the loch was a sheet of ice and I felt the temperature drop. Then on some bad bends just past this point there was some run off from the hills, that had frozen across the road. More on the other side than mine – note to self remember this on the road back – As I passed through Strathyre you noticed the frost on the trees, all the way down to the roadside. – really need heated grips- Then it was a nice clear run up to the meet.
Well lots of people turned up though not many on bikes The tea was hot and plenty, the mince pies and shortbread was piled high as each new arrival brought more. It was not until I got here that I found out the batteries to my camera were dead so had to use the mobile phone for some pictures. Still I thawed out stayed a couple of hours to eat drink and chat then headed for home.
A good day out on the bike and an experience as well



This guy rode in from Aberdeen on his BMW



Lots of hot tea on offer



View towards Lochearnhead village



View other way towards Crieff



Some of the bike that turned up



Note
You might need to google some of the place names to understand where they are. Also this is a popular area for bikers in the summer. The A84 is a demanding road with unexpected twists hidden dips and blind summits.



So what did you do ?

 

Slept all day long! Worked 12 hour shift at the hospital on 31 Dec so was very tired. Also worked the night of 1 January.

Wish I'd been in Scotland at the loch. Sipping tea and eating short breads. Great photos, thanks for sharing.

 

Sorry, forgot to ask. Is all of Scotland that beautiful? Apparently the sky must be blue above the ground haze. Haven't seen the sky or the sun/moon in about 3 weeks. What was the high/low temperature that day? Looked like a great day to ride.

 

I bundled up and shoveled another 6" of snow that fell overnight. And if that wasn't enough fun, I got to do the same thing again today!

 

I spent most of it playing with my 15 month old daughter, and then had band practice. Exciting stuff, no?

 

I threw up...stupid Asti. Then I watched football, all day long.

 

slept in then hung out with the family should really get working on the max tho but there is no riding untill at least may anyway so i've got time right

 

wamaxim
For me that was a round trip of about 100 miles
The air temp was that day was 1C at home at Lochearn it was -1C
The sky was clear blue but these were taken on my camera phone so quality not the best as for the sceanery once I get about 10-15 miles from home it is mostely like that all the time. (when it is not raining) I have friends from Englnd who love to visit as they say the roads here make you use both sides of your tyres the roads are that twisty. Oh and I had to work Christmas and Boxing day at my work

RangerG
Is that not what kids are for?

stormothecentury
Cool. I have a 14 week old grandson in Dubi that I have never seen except on the Skype

dwcopple
I must be getting old!!!!!

xj650ss
Thats good to but there is always tomorow to work on the bike

 

I fitted a towball to my RVR and got sunburnt... Not very exciting

 

Here is the route on google

 

My son wasn't home on the 1st but he did help on the 2nd.

 

I rained most of the day here. Started cleaning the shop so my Cub Scouts can come over next weekend to build pinewood derby cars. My mind was on my bike.
Beautifull countryside in Scotland Kenbo, how cold was it that day?

 

Looks like fun.

I'm suprised you didn't return via the B827 to B8033.
Looks to be a nice round trip.